Wednesday, August 29, 2012

The marriage referendum question is intentionally misleading, and fails to emphasize the basic question: will we attempt to fundamentally redefine marriage in MD? Vote "NO" on question 6!!! See the ballot language here...

Establishes that Maryland’s civil marriage laws allow gay and lesbian couples to obtain a civil marriage license, provided they are not otherwise prohibited from marrying; protects clergy from having to perform any particular marriage ceremony in violation of their religious beliefs; affirms that each religious faith has exclusive control over its own theological doctrine regarding who may marry within that faith; and provides that religious organizations and certain related entities are not required to provide goods, services, or benefits to an individual related to the celebration or promotion of marriage in violation of their religious beliefs.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

A record crowd of 81 persons attended the Solemn High Mass for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15, 2012 at Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Benedict, Maryland.

Father John Reutemann was celebrant, assisted by Deacon Samuel Plummer and Subdeacon Greg DeStefano. College seminarians of the Archdiocese of Washington, including Kevin Kayser, Greg Portner and Greg DeStefano served the Mass together with men of the parish. College seminarians David Knupp and Adam Tippett also sang in the schola together with Steve Karsteter.

Communion of the Mass

Father Reutemann and Deacon Plummer process from the sanctuary at the conclusion of the Mass.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Just in time for the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, a 75-foot rosary floats skyward from Chicago'sMichigan Avenue Bridge claiming the Magnificent Mile for Mary. A giant rosary floated gracefully over Chicago's busy tourism district on Friday as thousands looked on. The six-foot gold cross hanging from the rosary sparkled in the sunlight as it very slowly ascended between the Tribune tower and theWrigley building. The rosary of helium-filled yellow balloons bearing the word LIFE then floated down Michigan Avenue over the Hancock Tower and past North Ave Beach. Cameras and cell phones flew into action as people responded to the unexpected sight.

"There was an excitement all around us and there were people in tears at the sight of the rosary. I think we often take it for granted the power of a simple witness to the faith," said a camp counselor. A passerby tweeted, "A balloon rosary in the air. My faith confirmed :)", while another surprised Chicagoan wrote, "what the... giant balloon rosary, with cross, just floated heavenward from the Michigan avenue bridge." The rosary was the craft of 20 imaginative elementary-school-aged girls and their counselors participating in a summer camp at a Chicago Catholic Parish. The girls prayed the rosary in front of the Washington Blvd. Family Planning Associates asking Our Lady for an end to abortion. They then carried the rosary, cross-first, through downtown Chicago's peak traffic to the cheers, and sometimes jeers, of pedestrians and motorists. Homeless people gave high fives, street preachers started singing Gospel songs, and semi-truck drivers shook the streets sounding their truck horns in approval. "I was completely ecstatic the whole time. I loved seeing how many people on a random street corner were thrilled. It is a lot more than we tend to think," said one participant.

One of the girls said, "It was the prettiest rosary I have ever seen. I liked how it would float up and sit and then float up and sit. It looked really pretty against the buildings and the sky." Another camper said, "The best way to describe it was 'beautiful'. I didn't see one frowning face. It evangelized everyone who saw it." This is the latest of a series of spontaneous acts of joy across the United States involving the yellow LIFE balloons.